McKinney, Texas — With graduation just around the corner, McKinney ISD honored 45 seniors on Thursday, May 8, during its annual Distinguished Student Awards (DSA) Dinner at the MISD Community Event Center.
Held each spring, the DSA shines the spotlight 45 remarkable seniors from McKinney Boyd High School, McKinney High School and McKinney North High School to honor them for not only academic achievement but also for their commitment and dedication in a specific area—English, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, Career & Technology, Foreign Language, Fine Arts or Athletics—as well as At-Large honorees and the Valedictorian and Salutatorian from each school.
McKinney ISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt at the 2025 MISD Distinguished Student Awards Dinner held on Thursday, May 8, at the MISD Community Event Center
The Distinguished Student Award is the highest award that MISD bestows upon a student.
While the DSA honorees were chosen by the faculty at their respective schools, each of the students in turn had the opportunity to name one teacher who made the most significant impact over the course of their academic career. Those teachers were honored with the MISD Inspirational Teacher Award.
"Teachers," Pratt said from the stage, "congratulations on being selected by one of the outstanding students and thank you for what you do for our students every day—guiding them through their achievements and challenges, while motivating them to grow, mature, and be their best every day.
"Students," he continued, "congratulations for being recognized and honored here tonight as the most outstanding students in your respective field for your academic success and your contributions to your school—while demonstrating character, integrity and selflessness. The future is bright for all of us with these unbelievable students graduating on to the next chapter in their journey and eventually leading their families, their businesses and our community. Students, go into the next phase of your journey using all of your talent to serve others and make a difference in this world."
Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Distinguished Students and their Inspirational Teachers!
English Honors
London Friesen — McKinney Boyd High School — English
Inspirational Teacher — Cris Soto
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Cris Soto, London Friesen, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Lauren Hunsaker — McKinney High School — English
Inspirational Teacher — Richard McGowan
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Richard McGowan, Lauren Hunsaker, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Kamryn Francis — McKinney North High School — English
Inspirational Teacher - Kevin McPherson
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kevin McPherson, Kamryn Francis, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Science Honors
Miley Kelty — McKinney Boyd High School — Science
Inspirational Teacher —Katie Abel
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Katie Abel, Miley Kelty, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Chase Berndt — McKinney High School — Science
Inspirational Teacher — Kelly Daescu
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kelly Daescu, Chase Berndt, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Cali Tyler — McKinney North High School — Science
Inspirational Teacher — Gary Williams
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Gary Williams, Cali Tyler, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Social Studies Honors
Natalia Monteiro Ambrosio — McKinney Boyd High School — Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher — Randy Bilyeu
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Randy Bilyeu, Natalia Monteiro Ambrosio, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Luke Bayer — McKinney High School — Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher — Richard McGowan
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Richard McGowan, Luke Bayer, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Gracyn Reddick — McKinney North High School — Social Studies
Inspirational Teacher— Elizabeth Wright
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Elizabeth Wright, Gracyn Reddick, MISD Board Vice President Amy Dankel
Mathematics Honors
Logan Schwab — McKinney Boyd High School — Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher — Lanai Child
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lanai Child, Logan Schwab, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Mabel Cotter — McKinney High School — Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher — Theresa Horvath
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, MHS Assistant Principal Kelly Armbruster (for Theresa Horvath who was unable to attend), Mabel Cotter, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Brandon De Vun — McKinney North High School — Mathematics
Inspirational Teacher — James Lane
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, James Lane, Brandon De Vun, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Career & Technology Honors
Sofia Bautista — McKinney Boyd High School — Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher — Tiffany McBrayer
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Tiffany McBrayer, Sofia Bautista, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Eduard Najera — McKinney High School — Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher — Theresa Horvath
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, MHS Associate Principal Josh Greenwood (for Theresa Horvath who was not able to attend), Eduard Najera, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Zainab Baaqri — McKinney North High School — Career & Technology
Inspirational Teacher — Jacob Mannis
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jacob Mannis, Zainab Baaqri, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Foreign Language Honors
Uzair Khan — McKinney Boyd High School — Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher — Leslie D'Annibale
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Leslie D'Annibale, Uzair Khan, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Nola Naff — McKinney High School — Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher — Catherine Fields
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Catherine Fields, Nola Naff, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Nicolas Rodvold — McKinney North High School — Foreign Language
Inspirational Teacher — Lizbeth Testa
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lizbeth Testa, Nicolas Rodvold, MISD Board Secretary Harvey Oaxaca
Fine Arts Honors
There are three Fine Arts Award recipients from each high school.
David Iguardia Perez — McKinney Boyd High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Samuel Thomas
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Samuel Thomas, David Iguardia Perez, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Carson Knight — McKinney Boyd High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Amy Harrington
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Amy Harrington, Carson Knight, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Rylan McCollough — McKinney Boyd High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Jennifer Leigh
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jennifer Leigh, Rylan McCollough, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Natalie Merrell — McKinney High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Amanda Hughes
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Amanda Hughes, Natalie Merrell, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Aubrey Kelly — McKinney High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Tanner Wilemon
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Aubrey Kelly, Tanner Wilemon, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Isaac Gruber — McKinney High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Brandon Fisher
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Brandon Fisher, Isaac Gruber, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Finn Collins — McKinney North High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Lauren Clemon
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Lauren Clemon, Finn Collins, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Preston Quintero — McKinney North High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Deanne Pratt
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Preston Quintero, Deanne Pratt, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Jud Rector — McKinney North High School — Fine Arts
Inspirational Teacher — Chris Ahrens
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Jud Rector, Chris Ahrens, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Athletics Honors
There are two Athletics Award recipients from each high school.
Andrew Frost — McKinney Boyd High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Stefanie McCarthy
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Stefanie McCarthy, Andrew Frost, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Avery Hillman — McKinney Boyd High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Jennifer Castillo
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt (out of frame), Avery Hillman, Jennifer Castillo, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Beckham Sayers — McKinney High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Matt Ellis
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Beckham Sayers, Matt Ellis, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Aniya Garman — McKinney High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Kristi Hager
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Kristi Hager, Aniya Garman, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Emanuel Crosby — McKinney North High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — CaTina Bucierka
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Emanuel Crosby, CaTina Bucierka, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Ryhan Balous — McKinney North High School — Athletics
Inspirational Teacher — Jessica Richards
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Ryhan Balous, Jessica Richards, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
At-Large Honors
There are two At-Large Award recipients from each high school.
Mason Wakefield — McKinney Boyd High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Chris Kohler
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Chris Kohler, Mason Wakefield, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
MaKenna McBrayer — McKinney Boyd High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Chancy Smith
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Chancy Smith, MaKenna McBrayer, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
James McGowan — McKinney High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Curtis Christian
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Curtis Christian, James McGowan, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Paul Bachman III — McKinney High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — SgtMjr Don Hernandez, USMC (Ret)
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, SgtMjr Don Hernandez USMC (Ret), Paul Bachman III, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Kate Nunez — McKinney North High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Erica Trammell
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Erica Trammell, Kate Nunez, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Avery Sargent — McKinney North High School — At-Large
Inspirational Teacher — Blake Doan
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Blake Doan, Avery Sargent, MISD Board Member Larry Jagours
Salutatorian Honors
Ayaan Mustafa — McKinney Boyd High School — Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher — Megan Hart
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Ayaan Mustafa, Megan Hart, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
Edwin Varghese — McKinney High School — Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher — Theresa Horvath
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, McKinney North Associate Principal Josh Greenwood (for Theresa Horvath, who was unable to attend), Edwin Varghese, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
Mahati Madugula — McKinney North High School — Salutatorian
Inspirational Teacher — Shruti Mehrotra
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Mahati Madugula, Shruti Mehrotra, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
Valedictorian Honors
Richard Jeong — McKinney Boyd High School — Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher — Robert Peterson
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Richard Jeong, Robert Peterson, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
Hannah Tadesse — McKinney High School — Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher — Catherine Fields
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Catherine Fields, Hanna Tadesse, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
Ife Adeyemi — McKinney North High School — Valedictorian
Inspirational Teacher — Melissa Henderson
(L-R) MISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt, Melissa Henderson, Ife Adeyemi, MISD Board President Philip Hassler
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